Ventilated uniform cap



Nov. 26, 1957 H. LEV

VENTILATED UNIFORM CAP Filed Dec. 27. 1954 United States Patent s 2,814,046 VENTILATED UNIFORM CAP Harry Lev, Chicago, Ill.

Application Decemberw 27, 1`954,1SerialNo. 477,725

4 Claims. `(Cl. 2--181.6)`

This invention is concerned with uniform caps, and more particularly with a uniform cap band structure adapted to be thoroughly ventilated by circulating air.

Uniform caps of the type generally worn by the mili# tary have been deficient in the past because they were not constructed to provide adequate ventilation of the cap band structure. The cap band structure normally consisted of a slightly resilient, annular frame having' a` sweat bandI and a decorative band positioned against its inner and outer faces, respectively; weather or after prolonged use, such a structure would permit ptlspiration f rorn thehead of the personwearing the cap to penetrate through the sweat band` and soil the frame and decorativeband. Since no Iprovision was made for'exposingthe frame and inner faces of the othermat`e`rials to circulating air, the cap would often notbecome thoroughly dry between periods of use;v In additiorlV to being uncomfortable to the wearer, Vthe moisture" remaining in the cap would ultimately cause deterioration in the cap materials: The' present-invention eliminates theseundesirable features in previous uniformcapsfand provides the first known ventilation system for such caps.

One feature of the invention is that it provides a cap structure having a frame with air passages through it, and a perforated sweat band spaced from the frame to permit thorough ventilation between the frame and band.

Another feature is the provision of a netted material secured to the frame to maintain a metal band in place upon the inner face of the frame and to space the sweat band from the frame for purposes of ventilation.

A further feature is the provision of a cap structure in which the decorative band and the sweat band are each secured in spaced relation with respect to the frame of the uniform cap to facilitate circulation of air within the cap band structure.

VFurther features and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and from the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a uniform cap of the type with which this invention is concerned;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary broken sectional view of a portion of the cap band; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken as indicated on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment illustrated, and referring particularly to Fig. l, a military-type uniform cap is shown, generally designated 10, having a cap frame structure 11 supporting a cover 12. A visor 13 and chin strap 14 are secured to the front end of the cap frame structure 11 in the usual manner.

The cap frame structure 11 is constructed so that it is slightly resilient and may thereby easily conform to wearers heads of varying contour. The cap frame structure 11 includes a generally annular main frame 15 made from a slightly resilient material, the main frame being provided with a plurality of air passages 16 extending therethrough and distributed around the entire circum` During warm AA5 i theswartbandM" in; addition tolsecuiingtthifrnetal band 2,814,046 Patented 26,

lCC

2, ference thereof. The frame 15 is generally cut fro'rn sheet stock and bent into an annular structure of the desired' size. The material preferably used is commonly called Textron which is a high alpha' cellulose wood pulp impregnated withv anA oil resistant and perspirationI resistant synthetic rubber binder. Main frames rn'ade from this material have proved to be highly water repellent'and withstand dry cleaning very well. The sheets aret preff erably .05 inch thick (plus .O03 inch or minus .002 inch' tolerance) and of a consistency such that each sheet weighs about 1.4 pounds per square yard. l y u The cap frame structure 11 preferably includes an` an?v nular metal band 17 `to lend added resilience tothe struc'- ture. The metal band 17 is preferably positioned adj'a'; cent an annular portion of the inner face of' the frame j15y so as not to obstruct the air passages 16, or, Vif desired," the band 17 may be perforate so that air may have ready access to the passages in the frame 15. A netted or open: mesh material 18` is positioned over the metal band" 17.7 and secured, as' by stitching'- 19, to the frame 15 to holfd"` the metal band in relatively xed position. The free' upper and lower edges ofthe netted rnaterialwl'SV arev preferably folded'over Vopposite edges of the mainframe 15 and secured thereto, as by stitching' 20 and 22, ,andL by'stitching 231'and`23l y y l i E A sweat band`24, usually of leather and!provided.with aseries of cir-cumferentially disposed perforations 29"irs;` employed as` the` innermost member of the lcap Afratrie` structure 11. The sweat band 24 which entends around,` theframe IS'is-Spaced inwardly therefromby the netted material 18 toforni an annular-spacing 2f42z',`4an dv is latltachedat its lower edge to `a lowe'rrnargin edge porti` of the frame` 15` by stitching.V 23l` Thus, netted'. materialflS makes possible a' complete circulation df airN byl separatingadjaceiit: faces" o fthe*4 main fifa 17 in position upon the main frame 15.

A decorative band 25, made from a loosely woven fabric or other material porous to air, is extended about the outer face of the frame 15 in spaced relation thereto, as best seen in Fig. 3. The upper edge of the decorative band 25 is spaced by the cap cover 12 and its lining 12a which may be secured to the upper marginal edge portion of the frame 15. The continuous terminal edge of the lining 12a is preferably nested within a folded annular plastic strip 26 and secured to the frame 15 as by stitching 20. In addition, the continuous terminal edge of the cover 12 is positioned immediately adjacent the outer face of the plastic strip 26 and is secured, together with the upper edge portion of the decorative band 25, by the stitching 21 to the plastic strip 26, to the lining 12a and to the main frame 15.

The lower edge portion of the decorative band 25 is also spaced from the frame 15 to provide an outer annular compartment 27 for circulating air. This may be accomplished by providing an endless strip of material 28 folded about the lower annular end portion of the frame 15 and secured to the frame by the stitching 22. The lower edge portion of the decorative band 25 is in turn secured to the frame 15 by stitching 23.

Since the decorative band 25 is formed of a loosely woven material, it will permit air to circulate freely through it. Thus the cap frame structure 11 is provided with a ventilation system in which air may readily pass through the perforations 29 in the sweat band 24, the air passages 16 in the main frame 1S, and the loosely woven decorative band 25. In addition, breathing space in the cap frame structure is provided on opposite sides of the main frame 15 so that air is accessible to all portions of the structure.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments.

of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as dis closed in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A uniform cap, comprising: an endless annular frame provided with a cap cover secured to an upper portion of the frame, said frame having an inner face and an outer face, and a plurality of distributed lair passages therethrough; a decorative band of coarsely woven material covering said outer face; a sweat band extending around said frame inwardly thereof and having a lower marginal edge portion secured to an adjacent lower marginal edge portion of said frame said -sweat band having a plurality of distributed air passages disposed generally inwardly ofthe air passages of said frame; and an endless strip of netted materialsecured to the frame so as to cover the 'inner face thereof, said strip spacing the sweat band from the inner face of the frame and permitting passage of circulating air between said sweat band and frame passages.

2. A uniform cap as specified in claim 1, in which the air passages are annularly disposed in relation to the sweat band `and frame, respectively.

3L A uniform cap, comprising: an endless annular frame provided with a cap cover secured to an upper portion of the frame, said frame having an inner face and an outer face, and a plurality of distributed air passages therethrough; a resilient metal band extending around said inner face; a decorative band of coarsely woven material covering said outer face; a perforated sweat band extending around said frame inwardly thereof and having a lower marginal edge portion secured to an adjacent lower marginal edge portion of said frame said sweat band having a plurality of distributed air passages disposed generally inwardly of the air passages of said frame; and an endless strip of netted material covering said metal band and secured to said frame to hold said metal band in xed position, said strip maintaining said sweat 4 band and frame in spaced relation to permit passage of circulating air between said sweat band and said frame. Y4. A uniform cap comprising: an endless annular frame having an inner face, an outer face, an upper marginal edge portion, and a lower marginal edge portion; a cap cover having a continuous terminal edge secured to the outer face of the frame near said upper marginal edge portion; a decorative band of coarseiy woven material covering said outer face, the continuous terminal edge of said cap cover spacing an upper portion of said decorative band from said outer face of the frame; a perforated sweat band extending around said frame in spacedrelation to said inner face; an endless strip of netted material between said inner face and said sweatband for maintaining the spaced relationship thereof while allowing free passage of air therebetween, said strip being stitched to said frame so as to form an annular channel therebetween; a spacer strip of material folded about saidlower marginaledge portion of the frame, and secured to said frame and said sweatband, said endless strip maintaining the lower marginal edge portion of the frame in spaced relationship from said decorative band and augmenting the spacing effected by said strip of netted material between the frame and the sweatband, to maintain the frame free for circulation of air relative to said frame and decorative band; and an endless metal band in said channel and retained against said frame by said netted strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,185,670 Kaye Jan. 2, 1940 2,555,348 Lev June 5, 1951 2,579,196 Lev Dec. 18, 1951 2,582,492 Lev June 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 484,168 Great Britain May 2, 1938 

